“...I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15)

“God lives, God moves, and God works out His life in the Church; and the testimony and the reality stand upon the Church. We must consider these two aspects: inwardly, God’s dwelling in the Church; and outwardly, the Church bearing the testimony and the reality. These two aspects show the real mingling of God with man. Within the Church—this group of redeemed, regenerated, and transformed people—God dwells; and upon this group of people, there is the reality of the universe. All the reality of the universe is centered in this group. If anyone wants to know what life is, he must come to the Church and see. If some would like to know what love is, they too must come and see. If the reality of humility and kindness is to be known, the Church is the place to see it. Upon this group of people is seen the reality of the all-inclusive Christ. The testimony of the Church is not in doctrine but in bearing Christ as the reality. The more we exclaim “Christ,” yet have not the inner reality, the more Christ is gone. We only have Christ in shouting, in talking, and in teaching. We do not have Him in our inner life, nor do we experience Him in our outer living, our daily walk. The Church must be the pillar and ground, bearing Christ as the only reality of everything. If we do not know the real meaning of life, we must be able to come to the Church to find it.”

(The Economy of God, ch. 23)